Another Democrat in close race skipping Democratic National Convention

Another Democrat facing a close re-election contest is skipping the Democratic National Convention this summer.

Pennsylvania Rep. Mark Critz will not appear at the gathering of Democrats in Charlotte, N.C., to officially re-nominate Obama for president, Shira Toeplitz of Roll Call reports.

Critz spokesman Matthew Mazonkey did not respond to a request for comment from The Daily Caller on Tuesday.

On Monday three prominent West Virginia Democrats — Sen. Joe Manchin, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and Rep. Nick Rahall — announced they are not attending the September convention.

Republicans argue that these Democrats are skipping the convention to distance themselves from President Barack Obama.

“We all know the only reason they’re refusing to attend the DNC Convention is they’re afraid to tell the people of West Virginia who they support for President, and any attempt to suggest otherwise is political spin aimed at purposefully misleading the voters,” said Conrad Lucas, the chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party, about the Democrats in his state.

In Pennsylvania, Critz will face Republican Keith Rothfus in a district that will be tough for Democrats. Republican presidential nominee John McCain won 54 percent of the district’s votes in 2008.